Balneari, the Council of State: "Extension of concessions no later than 2023"

The extension of the current bathing concessions cannot go beyond 31 December 2023.

This was established by the Council of State, justifying the extension with the aim of avoiding "the significant socio-economic impact that would derive from an immediate and generalized forfeiture of all existing concessions".

However, the plenary meeting of the CDS specifies, "from the following day there will be no possibility of further extension, not even by way of legislation, and the sector will be open to the rules of free competition".

With judgments nos. 17 and 18 published today, the Plenary Meeting of the Council of State, noting "the exceptional attractiveness of the national coastal heritage", affirmed that the persistent absence of an organic national discipline of state-owned maritime concessions generates a situation of serious opposition with the rules for the protection of competition imposed by EU law, because it allows automatic and generalized extensions of the current concessions (the last, however, of an abnormal duration, until 31 December 2033), thus preventing anyone who wants to enter the sector from doing so.

Competition, observes the CDS, "is extremely valuable for guaranteeing citizens a more efficient management of the coastal heritage and an offer of public services of better quality and safety, being able to contribute significantly to economic growth and, above all, to recovery of the investments the country needs ".

The current dealers will still be able to participate in the tenders that will have to be announced.

After December 31, 2023, in short, "there will be no possibility of further extension, not even by way of legislation", and "all state-owned concessions must be considered ineffective, regardless of whether or not there is a substitute in the concession".

(Unioneonline / L)